Both 1.6 and 1.8 litre Twin Spark, and 2.0 litre JTS petrol units complete the 156 and Sportwagon engine range. Alfa Romeo’s new JTS engine is among the world’s most powerful direct injection petrol engines in production, and the first with over 82 bhp per litre and torque above 74 lb.ft per litre. This outstanding engine takes its name (Jet Thrust Stoichiometric) from its specific combustion system.

Two high performance derivatives of the 156 range, the 250 bhp, 3.2 litre 156 GTA and Sportwagon GTA, remain unaltered within the new model line-up, while the 2.5 V6 is discontinued in the UK.

Styled By Giugiaro

Giorgetto Giugiaro, recently voted Designer of the Century by more than 120 international journalists, has redesigned the new Alfa 156 exterior both to increase its formidable road presence, and bring the cars’ styling into line with the latest models in the Alfa Romeo range.

"The reinterpretation of a winning model such as the Alfa 156 had to convey maximum determination and assertion to add even greater appeal," explains Giugiaro. "All the horizontal lines at the front converge on the grille to increase the sense of potency, whilst the grille itself is larger and has been reshaped. The headlights feature round, chrome-plated components on a black background and are joined by a single glass lip. The lower part of the bumper has also been reduced in width to increase the sporty, assertive feel."